None: Chapter 196

The wrath of Ashvatthaman

संजय उवाच छद्मना निहतं श्रुत्वा पितरं पापकर्मणा। बाष्पेणापूर्यत द्रौणी रोषेण च नरर्षभ।।।।
Sanjaya said Hearing that his father has been slain by underhand means by Dhristadyumna of sinful deeds, Drona's son became filled, O foremost of men, with tears as well as with (extreme) rage.

तस्य क्रुद्धस्य राजेन्द्र वपुर्दीप्तमदृश्यत। अन्तकस्येव भूतानि जिहीर्षोः कालपर्यये॥
Inflamed as he was with rage, his body, O monarch, appeared to burn like that of the Destroyer himself when at the expiration of a Yuga, he engages himself in slaughtering created beings.

अश्रुपूर्णे ततो नेत्रे व्यपमृज्य पुनः पुनः। उवाच कोपान्निःश्वस्य दुर्योधनमिदं वचः॥
Then repeatedly wiping off his eyes shedding copious tears and breathing in rage, he said these words unto king Duryodhana.

पिता मम यथा क्षुदैर्व्यस्तशस्रो निपातितः। धर्मध्वजवता पापं कृतं तद् विदितं मम॥
I have been apprised of the fact, how my father was slain after he laid his weapons aside; I have also known how a sinful act has been committed by those who boast of hoisting the standard of virtue.

अनार्यं सुनृशंसं च धर्मपुत्रस्य मे श्रुतम्। युद्धेष्वपि प्रवृत्तानां ध्रुवं जयपराजयौ॥ द्वतमेतद् भवेद् राजन् वधस्तत्र प्रशस्यते। न्यायवृत्तो वधो यस्तु संग्रामे युध्यतो भवेत्॥
I have also heard of the vile and ruthless act of the very virtuous king Yudhishthira. Surely either victory or its reverses will fall to the lot of those who engage in fight. Death in battle is ever esteemed. The death overtaking one engaged in fight under fair rules of combat.

न स दुःखाय भवति तथा दृष्टो हि स द्विजैः। गतः स वीरलोकाय पिता मम न संशयः॥
Should not become a source of grief, as been observed by the sages. My father, without doubt, has gone to the posthumous regions of the heroes.

न शोच्यः पुरुषव्याघ्र यस्तदा निधनं गतः। यत् तु धर्मप्रवृत्तः सन् केशग्रहणमाप्तवान्॥
I should not lament for that foremost of men as he had undergone the most excellent from of death. But when fighting fairly, he was seized by the hair.

पश्यतां सर्वसैन्यानां तन्मे मर्माणि कृन्तति। मयि जीवति यत् तात: केशग्रहमवाप्तवान्॥
Before the eyes of all the troops; this humiliation that he sustained is biting me to the very quick. Whilst I live, my sire was seized by the hair.

कथमन्ये करिष्यन्ति पुत्रेभ्यः पुत्रिणः स्पृहाम्। कामात् क्रोधादविज्ञानाद्धर्षाद् बाल्येन वा पुनः॥
Why then should sonless men wish to obtain sons (who can help them in no way)? Moved by lust or wrath or ignorance or hatred or levity.

विधर्मकाणि कुर्वन्ति तथा परिभवन्ति च। तदिदं पार्षतेनेह महादाधर्मिकं कृतम्॥
Men perpetrate acts opposed to morality or to humiliate others. This most sinful act has been committed by the son of Prisata.

अवज्ञाय च मां नूनं नृशंसेन दुरात्मना। तस्यानुबन्धं द्रष्टासौ धृष्टद्युम्नः सुदारुणम्॥
Of wicked soul and ruthless heart, in utter disregard of myself. Dhristadyumna shall behold the dreadful consequences of his act.

अकार्यं परमं कृत्वा मिथ्यावादी च पाण्डवः। यो ह्यसौ छानाऽऽचार्यं शस्रं संन्यासयत् तदा॥
As also the prevaricating sons of Pandu, who have perpetrated a sinful act. He that caused by an underhand underhand measure, the preceptor to lay aside his weapon.

तस्याद्य धर्मराजस्य भूमिः पास्यति शोणितम्। शपे सत्येन कौरव्य इष्टापूर्तेन चैव ह॥
The blood of that son of Dharma the earth shall drink today. I swear by my truth, O foremost of the Kurus, as also by the religious merits acquired by my Istha and Purtha acts.

अहत्वा सर्वपाञ्चालान् जीवेयं न कथंचन। सर्वोपायैर्यतिष्यामि पञ्चालानामहं वधे॥
That I shall drag on my burden some existence without slaying the Panchalas to the last men. Having re-course to all measures, I shall contend against the Panchalas in great battle,

धृष्टद्युम्नं च समरे हन्ताहं पापकारिणम्। कर्मणा येन तेनेह मृदुनो दारुणेन च॥
Either by hook or crook or by violent or mild measures I will achieve the slaughter of Dhristadyumna of evil deeds in battle.

पञ्चालानां वधं कृत्वा शान्तिं लब्धास्मि कौरव। यदर्थं पुरुषव्याघ्र पुत्रानिच्छन्ति मानवाः॥
() ruler of the Kuru, exterminating the Panchalas, I shall regain my peace of mind. O foremost of men, people desire to have children.

प्रेत्य चेह च सम्प्राप्तास्रायन्ते महतो भयात्। पित्रा तु मम सावस्था प्राप्ता निर्बन्धुना यथा॥
In order that these latter may free them from great danger here and hereafter. But my sire was reduced to a woeful plight like one helpless.

मयि शैलप्रतीकाशे पुत्रे शिष्ये च जीवति। धिङ्ममास्राणि दिव्यानि धिग् बाहू धिक्पराक्रमम्॥
While myself his son and disciple, equal to a mountain (in mighty) am still alive. Fie on my weapons of celestial make, fie on my arms, fie on my prowess.

यं स्म द्रोणः सुतं प्राप्य केशग्रहमवाप्तवान्। स तथाहं करिष्यामि तथा भरतसत्तम।॥
Inasmuch as getting me for his son, Drona had to suffer the indignity of being seized by the hair. O foremost of the Bharatas, I shall therefore so exert myself that.

परलोकगतस्यापि भविष्याम्यनृणः पितुः। आर्येण हि न वक्तव्या कदाचित् स्तुतिरात्मनः॥
I may be free from the debt I still owe to my sire who has proceeded to Heaven. A noble person never indulges in his own praise;

पितुर्वधममृष्यंस्तु वक्ष्यामोह पौरुषम्। अद्य पश्यन्तु मे वीर्यं पाण्डवाः सजनार्दनाः॥
But incapable of tolerating the slaughter of my sire, I shall today untter my own praises-Let the Pandavas with Janardana at their head today behold my prowess.

मृद्गतः सर्वसैन्यानि युगान्तमिव कुर्वतः। न हि देवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न च राक्षसाः॥
As I grind all creatures like the Destroyer himself at the hour of Dissolution. Neither the gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Asuras, nor the reptiles, nor the Rakshasas.

अद्य शक्ता रणे जेतुं रथस्थं मां नरर्षभाः। मदन्यो नास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन्नर्जुनाद् वास्त्रवित् क्वचित्।।
Will be able today to conquer me as I shall ride on my car, O foremost of men. There is none in the world superior to me or Arjuna in the knowledge of weapons.

अहं हि ज्वलतां मध्ये मयूखानामिवांशुमान्। प्रयोक्ता देवसृष्टानामस्राणां पृतनागतः॥
Today at the heart of the hostile troops, like the sun in the midst of scorching rays, I shall discharge my celestial weapons.

भृयामिष्वसनादद्य मत्प्रयुक्ता महाहवे। दर्शयन्तः शरा वीर्य प्रमथिष्यन्ति पाण्डवान्॥
In today's mighty battle, shafts shot furiously from by bow will crush and mangle the Pandavas, showing their great energy.

अद्य सर्वा दिशो राजन् धाराभिरिव संकुलाः। आवृताः पत्रिभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्द्रष्टरो मामकैरिह॥
My troops shall today bchold the quarters of the compass, shrouded with sharp-winged shafts, as if O king, by shower of rain.

विकिरज्छरजालानि सर्वतो भैरवस्वनान्। शत्रून् निपातयिष्यामि महावात इव दुमान्॥
Shooting on all sides shafts of dreadful whirl, I shall fell my foes like the mighty tempest uprooting the trees.

न हि जानाति बीभत्सुस्तदस्त्रं न जनार्दनः। न भीमसेनो न यमौ न च राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥ न पार्षतो दुरात्मासौ न शिखण्डी न सात्यकिः। यदिदं मयि कौरव्य सकल्पं सनिवर्तनम्॥
Neither Vibhatsu, nor Janardana, Bhimasena, nor the twins, (Nakula and Sahadeva), nor king Yudhishthira, nor Prisata's son of wicked soul, Sikhandin, nor Satyaki, even know the weapon which I possess, O nor foremost of the Kurus, with the mantras for hurling and withdrawing it.

नारायणाय मे पित्रा प्रणम्य विधिपूर्वकम्। उपहारः पुरा दत्तो ब्रह्मरूप उपस्थितः॥
Formerly on one occasion, disguised as a Brahmana, Narayana, came to my father; whereupon my father bowing down unto him presented him offerings in due course and from.

तं स्वयं प्रतिगृह्याथ भगवान् स वरं ददौ। ववे पिता मे परममा नारायणं ततः॥
Accepting those offerings that possessor of the six illustrious qualities (the Bhagas) desired to accord a boon to my sire. Thereupon my father asked the boon of getting that most excellent weapon called Narayana.

अथैनमब्रवीद् राजन् भगवान् देवसत्तमः। भविता त्वत्समो नान्यः कश्चिद् युधि नरः क्वचित्।। ३३
Thereupon that foremost of all gods, that possessor of the six divine qualities said unto him, O king, “No man shall ever be a match for you in battle.

न त्विदं सहसा ब्रह्मन् प्रयोक्तव्यं कथंचन। न ह्येतदस्रमन्यत्र वधाच्छवोर्निवर्तते॥
But, O Brahmana, this weapon should not be used without sufficient deliberation, for it never returns without dispatching the foc at whom it is hurled.

न चैतच्छक्यते ज्ञातुं कं न वध्येदिति प्रभो। अवध्यमपि हन्याद्धि तस्मान्नैतत् प्रयोजयेत्॥
O Lord, I know not whom it may not slay. It will even effect the death of him who is unslayable. Therefore it should not be used hastily.

अथ संख्ये रथस्यैव शस्राणां च विसर्जनम्। प्रयाचतां च शूत्रणां गमनं शरणस्य च॥
When one abandons his car on weapons in battle or implores for mercy or surrenders himself.

एते प्रशमने योगा महास्रस्य परंतप। सर्वथा पीडितो हि स्यादवध्यान् पीडयन् रणे॥
O afflicter of your foes, these are the occasions when this mighty weapon, should not be used. He that wants to afflict the unslayable by this weapon himself becomes afflicted by it.

तज्जग्राह पिता मह्यमब्रवीच्चैव स प्रभुः। त्वं वधिष्यसि सर्वाणि शस्रवर्षाण्यनेकशः॥
My puissant father then received that weapon. The lord then thus spoke to me also. "You shall destroy many showers of celestial weapons.

अनेनास्रेण संग्राते तेजसा च ज्वलिष्यसि। एवमुक्तवा स भगवान् दिवमाचक्रमे प्रभुः॥
By means of this weapon and you shall blaze forth in effulgence by its virtue." Having thus spoken that Divine Lord ascended to heaven.

एतन्नारायणादस्त्रं तत् प्राप्तं पितृबन्धुना। तेनाहं पाण्डवांश्चैव पञ्चालान् मत्स्यकेकयान्॥ विद्रावयिष्यामि रणे शचीपतिरिवासुरान्। यथा यथाहमिच्छेयं तथा भूत्वा शरा मम॥
This is history how my father obtained the Narayana weapon from the god. With the aid of this weapon, I shall crush the Pandavas, the Panchalas, the Matsyas and the Kaikayas in battle like the husband of Sachi crushing the Asuras. Assuming those particular forms which I shall desire them to assume, my arrows.

निपतेयुः सपत्नेषु विक्रमत्स्वपि भारत। यथेष्टमश्मवर्षेण प्रवर्षिष्ये रणे स्थितः॥
Will fall upon my foes contending vigorously in battle. Staying in battle I shall shower weapons as it lists men to do.

अयोमुखैश्च विहगैर्द्रावयिष्ये महारथान्। परश्वधांश्च निशितानुत्स्रक्ष्येऽहमसंशयम्॥
I will rout the foremost of car-warriors with sky-ranging arrows furnished with iron tips. I will certainly hurl battle axes, bludgeons and various other kinds of weapons.

सोऽहं नारायणस्रेण महता शत्रुतापनः। शत्रून् विध्वंसयिष्यामि कदर्थी कृत्य पाण्डवान्॥
An afflicter of foes as I am, with the aid of that Narayana weapon, I shall destroy the foes, completely crushing the Pandavas.

मित्रब्रह्मगुरुद्रोही जाल्मकः सुविगर्हितः। पाञ्चालापसदश्चाद्य न मे जीवन विमोक्ष्यते॥
That disgrace to the Panchala race, that contemner of his friends, the Brahmanas and his preceptor, that odious fellow of vilest conduct, shall not escape me alive today.

तच्छ्रुत्वा द्रोणपुत्रस्य पर्यवर्तते वाहिनी। ततः सर्वे महाशङ्खान् दध्मुः पुरुषसत्तमाः॥
Hearing those words of Drona's son, the army rallied; all foremost of warriors therein blew their mighly conches.

भेरीचाभ्यहनन् हृष्टा डिण्डिमांश्च सहस्रशः। तथा ननाद वसुधा खुरनेमिप्रपीडिता॥
Delightedly they began to strike up the Bheris and Dindimas by thousands; the earth then struck with the hoops of horses and whecls of car, rang out loudly.

स शब्दस्तुमुल: खं द्यां पृथिवीं च व्यनादयत्। तं शब्दं पाण्डवाः श्रुत्वा पर्जन्यनिनदोपमम्॥
That tremendous din resounded through the welkin. the heavens and the earth. Then hearing that sound that resembled the rumble of rain-clouds, the Pandavas.

समेत्य रथिनां श्रेष्ठाः सहिताश्चाप्यमन्त्रयन्। तथोक्त्वा द्रोणपुत्रस्तु वायुपस्पृश्य भारत॥ प्रादुश्चकार तद् दिव्यमस्र नारायणं तदा।॥
Those foremost of car-warriors, uniting together began to consult. The son of Drona aiso, O Bharata, having spoken in the above manner, washed his mouth with water and then invoked into existence that celestial weapon known by the name of Narayana.